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‘Paint the Pavement’ will mark WYE milestone

The WYE interchange in Boise, the largest construction project in state history, is reaching its final milestone – the opening of the new eastbound Cole/Overland off-ramp and the completion of the eastbound lanes.

To commemorate the accomplishment, ITD is throwing a party on the pavement Friday, June 11. The celebration will include remarks by Gov. Dirk Kempthorne and U.S. Rep. Mike Simpson.

WYE Stage II began in January 2002 following the completion of WYE Stage I. Construction on the original WYE interchange began in 1968.

“The WYE Interchange is an important roadway in the state of Idaho,” Gov. Kempthorne said. “It is a major hub for commuters, businesses and retailers and is crucial for the movement of goods and services throughout the state.”

Simpson agrees.

“The completion of this project will be significant. Tens of millions of dollars of federal money was used to reconstruct this interchange, and I am continuing to work on a new reauthorization bill that will provide money for Idaho’s future highway construction projects.”

Joining the governor and congressman as special guests at the ceremony will be Idaho Transportation Board Chairman Charles L. Winder, ITD Director David Ekern, and more than 30 children of contractors who worked on the project. They will jointly paint the last four stripes on the $36 million, Stage II project.

“This is the largest and most complex road construction project ever undertaken in the state of Idaho,” said District 3 Engineer Pamela Lowe.

“It was necessary to form many partnerships to accomplish a project of this magnitude. Those partners included local jurisdictions, law enforcement, the contracting community, the business community, adjacent neighborhoods and the traveling public. Forging these types of partnerships will be a model for future successful projects in Idaho.

“The project could not have been completed without the cooperation and patience of the traveling public. They adapted to changing traffic patterns without major complications, for which ITD and the contractors are very grateful,” Lowe added.

Completion of the project is expected by the end of this summer.

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